Charging car



July 21, 1953 G. PADGETT i 2,646,395

CHARGING CAR r Filed April 5, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l G. PADGETT July 21, 1953 CHARGING CAR Filed April 5, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 21 1953 .l I G. PADGETT 2,646,395

' CHARGING CAR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 5, 19.46

'P-atentecl July 1.953 n v UNITED i STATES' PATENT ori-ics f `24:46,'395 1 f'. 'i

CHARGING CARU Grady Padgett, Beaver, Pa. Y

Application April 5, 1946, Serial No. 659,814

This invention relates ticularly intended for use in conjunction with cokmg ovens of the vertical type wherein the vto charging cars par-V 11v Claims. (Chmn- 263) chargegof'coal is deposited through openings in the top of the oven after removal of the top oven doors, andto a process of charging such ovens.

' It may be adapted for use with horizontal ovens.

VIt is the usual practice to charge coal into vertical chamber ovens or retorts by dumping a certain weight of coal into the cokng space. Horizontal ovens are iilled by charging from a car on top of the battery and leveling oito a Xed coal 'i line by moving back and forth a long bar VcarriedV on the pusher. The coal line is determined chiefly;

main and one standpipe per oven gas is Wasted to the air and dust is blown out over the plant dueV to the rush of gases up through the finely pulverized coal charged into the looking chamber.

Onv other batteries two collecting mains Yare provided and standpipes installed at each end of the oven. By using a steam injector in each of these standpipes and charging through o ne opening in the center of the oven, a partial vacuum is obtained in the oven. and the gas and dust are drawn into the collecting main., Furthermore, some air which burns'and results in the adldition of inerts to the gas is drawn through the charge ingopening'and leveling door. Dust settles out partly in the decanter'used to separate the tars froml the liquors but a portion of this dust will remain in the tar, deteriorating its quality.

There Vis one o ther method used on batteries equipped with only one main. This comprises placing `a connecting pipe from the oven being charged to the adjacent oven at the end opposite the standpipe and creating `a suction inY the standpipe, thus retaining Vthe gasin the apparatus. 'l

Among the objects of my invention'are an increased economy through. the labor saved by coniining the operations ofthe charging and leveling to one machine andone operator and to speedv up the charging operation, thus vobtaining a still further saving in labor costs.

Other objects of the invention are to keep the dust lout ci the air and out of the'apparatus, thus not only creating improved Working conditions With all vtheir attendant advantages but producing a better qualityof tar, which isfan important ley-product of the coking process. .i .v

.Still another object 'of the ,invention is .topre- 2 vent the unnecessary admission of oxygen and inerts to the gas. `Y Y Y Various other advantages and meritorious features of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description taken -in conjunction "with the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures and wherein: Y

Figure lis a section throughf'Ie-l of Fig. 3;

-FigpZ is a top plan view ofthe movable chute and leveling bar assembly;` Fig. 3 is an endV elevation; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view the details of construction;

Fig. 5 is a somewhat enlargedrjfelevation, par-.- tially insection, of the oven door eXtractingand.

` v tightening mechanism;

' Fig.,6 is an enlarged sectional detail. vieW of the coupling member and oven Adoor supporting frame shown at the bottom of Fig. l1;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammaticillustration of one end of the leveling bar, and

Figa is an enlarged detail view at right angles t0 Fig.`r 3.'-

The various elements of my improved charging car are supported upon a base frame l0 provided with motor-driven wheeled supports I2 movable on parallel tracks I which are so arranged as to permit the car tov span one or more ofthe re- In f movable oven doors in the battery of ovens. the embodiment illustrated the arrangement is such that the car spans two openings I6 rand i8.' Duplicate mechanism is provided at each side of f the car for performing the various operations to' be describedmore in detail hereafter and the car is provided with an operators cab (notdisclosed) carrying 'the usual controls for performing they n ings land I8 during thecoking operation and;

sealing-ovens during that period.

The ovendoor construction may be of any standard type or maybe of thetype described and illustrated in my copending application, Ser.

No.y 511,618, now Patent No. 2,475,512. InV any event the doors are seated o'n frames 22, the

upper faces of .which are machined, and are latched in closed position to form a gas-tight seal by means of latch mechanism broadly'illustrated byv the numeral 24 (Fig. 6).

across the width of the car centrally thereof and spanning both oven openings is a gas-tight enclosure generally. designated by the numeral 25.

At each end of this*enclos'ure'and spanninga single j oven door is al .recessed portion ZBWith Which associateda :coupling 2'l'mountedY forverticalmovementfand vactuated bysome such.'

suitable means as pneumatic cylinders 28 which l oneA of Extending t3 and 55.

3 may be controlled from the operators cab to lower the couplings after the same have been positioned over the oven doors. The free lower margins of the plates forming each movable coupling 2l cooperate with the machined upper surface of the door frame 22 to provide a gastight seal around each opening.

Special means are provided to assure a gastight seal between each movable coupling inember 2l and the enclosure 25. One form of mechanism for accomplishing this end is illustrated in detail in Fig. 4 wherein verticalV plates 35 of the coupling member strengthened by angle 32 slide f against a sealing assembly supported upon a horizontal beam 34 and held in position adjacent plate 30 by means of a plate 36. Beam 34 is similar to a packing gland and may be adjusted vertically by nuts 38. Between sliding plate 30 of the movable coupling and plate 36 are two spaced packing blocks i2 between which `is a flexible tube 44 which may be expanded by fluid pressure admit-k ted through tube 46 to expand the inner block against plate 30 after the movable coupling lhas been lowered over the oven door. This arrangement insures a complete seal without the necesn sity for machining the sealing surfaces.

Located inside the gas-tight enclosure 25 is an oven door extracting and tightening mechanism broadly illustrated by the numeral 43 which may be raised and lowered by means of a supporting ,g

arm or lever 5D actuated by drive gear 52 which may in turn be operated by afmotor-driven worm 54. 49 in which are journaled intermeshing gears 5 l,

rection or another by a pinion 5l powered from an electric motor 59 controllable from the cab. Rotation of gear 5l in either direction causes rotation of worm shafts 5l which in turn rotate gears E3 to cause rotation of shafts 65, on the end of which are socket wrenches 56. Such rotation, after wrenches 56 have been lowered upon oven door bolts 58, serve by means of cam mechanism not fully illustrated herein to move cams engaging the latches 25 .and release such latches to permit removal of the door. This mechanism is more completely disclosed in my copending application, Ser. No. 511,618, to which reference is made. v

For removing the door, hooks 60 are adapted for movement transversely across the door to engage lifting handles. Transverse movement of each pair of hooks'or door handle engaging members 60 is obtained by means of a solenoid mechanism broadly designated by the numeral 62 moving against the bias of a spring and controlled by suitable means from the operators cam. Thus it will be seen that after the oven door has been unlatched and the hooks 60 engaged with the door handles, the arm 5B may be swung upward into the recess 26 of the gas-tight enclosure, thereby leaving the oven opening free for discharge of coal into the oven.

A main stationary hopper 64 opens into a series of spaced stationary chutes 5S, each of which is provided with a gate 58 which may be pneumatically operated and controlled from the cab of the car.

A movable chute and leveling bar assembly broadly indicated by the numeral l0 is suspended within the gas-tight enclosure 25 by means of a transverse beam ld. For each oven door l have illustrated three chutes 13 which are suspended in spaced relation to one another from beam 14,. There are a corresponding number, Off fefl Qhlles.

Mechanism i8 (Fig. 5) 'embodies a housing y These gears are actuated in one dr" Y in turn rotates a worm wheel 91.

66 similarly rspaced and communicating with hopper 64. Guideways 16 on each side of the mouth of each of the movable chutes 13 are adapted to engage flanges l on each side of the mouth of each of the respective stationary chutes 65, thus positioning and aligning the movable chutes in communication with the stationary chutes when the former are lowered into operative position.

Between each adjacent pair of chutes 'F3 and in transverse alignment with one another is secured a member l5. A bearing pin 88 is pivotally journaled at the midsection of each of these members l5. Integral with and extending upwardly from each pin 8B is a link or arin which at its upper extremity is connected by a pivot pin to reciprocating bar Hill. This reciprocating bar extends transversely across the entire machine and is pivotally supported upon the links 32 which are xedly positioned for pivotal swinging movement at bearing pins d8.

An electric motor 9S drives a worm shaft which Pitman Sii is pivotally connected to the wcrm wheel adjacent its periphery yand the other end of the pitman it pivotally connected to the reciprocable bar H10.. Gnroperation of the motor the pitman 96 func-- tions `to reciprocate bar |65, and through their' supporting connection with such bar the linksl 52 are swung back and forth in pendulum fashion to rotate bearing pins 88.

Depending below and integral with bearing pins S8 are links or arms 33, each of which is provided with a forked lower end as indicated at 92. A hollow leveling bar 8@ spans the lower openings of the movable chutes and is suspended below them by means of arms 86 which are secured to rollers Qi). These rollers Ml are positioned between bars or tracks 94 which extend transversely between movable chutes i3 and are secured thereto.

As links B3 swing back and forth due to the reciprocating movement of bar B05 driven through motor 9B and pitman 95, forks 92 which embrace rollers 9d force the said rollers back and forth along their transverse guideway in tracks d4. To the lower ends of arms E@ is secured a hollow leveling bar 8d which spans the movable chutes and is suspended by said arms below and in alignment with them. The tines of forks 92 are sufliciently long to maintain driving Contact with rollers Si! as each fork moves in an arcuate path about pivot point 8S, thus insuring positive drive contact through said tines to the leveling bar Bil during the full swinging movement of reciprocating drive bar lill?. The motor 9d is controlled from the cab.

Beam 'le from which the movable chute and leveling bar assembly is suspended is raised .and

lowered within the enclosure 25 by means of a drum and cable arrangement positioned above the enclosure and broadly indicated by numeral l2, which is actuated by an electric motor controlled bythe operator inthe car.

It should be understood that the structural details heretofore set forth in connection with the movable chute and leveling bar assembly constitute no part of the invention, which resides in the assembly broadly and its cooperative relationship with other features described.

The gas-tight enclosure 25, which houses the door extracting and tightening mechanism as well as the movable chute and levelingbar assemblies, is connected by means of conduit 102 with a dust collector H14 from which conduit I 06 conveys the,

dust-freed gas to an outlet more particularly to be described. Passages |03 from within the oven open into standpipe `I I provided with a sealing cap I|2 and communicating withv a collecting main |I4. A pneumatically operated 'gas shutoff valve I I6 is arrangedto be lowered intostandpipe I|0 when the sealing cap ||2 is opened, and a vertically movable sleeve I I8 is arranged for lowering around the standpipe and its open cap I I2 to form a continuous passageifrom conduit |06 into the collecting main I|4 .when` the gas shut-off valve IIS has vbeen'moved downwardly to seal the standpipe from the collecting main.

Preferably the upper surface of the standpipe is Vmachined and a packing such as that illustrated in Fig. 4 is used for sealing the upper portion of the sleeve after it has been lowered.

Steam foru purging isl providedby means of a steam main so that, when the gas shut-off valve |"I6 is raised and-standpipe I 0 is closed, the charging car may be freedof gas and the oven doors replaced. It will also be vusedY to keep the car cool in case mechanical or other trouble interferes with normal operation.

My improved chargingY car is operated` in the following manner: With the oven valved or sealed from the collecting main at the end of the coking period by means of la valve diagrammatically illustrated at |22, the standpipe cap I I2 open and the usual accumulation of carbon in the standpipe andthe neck or connection |23 to the collecting main either burned or cleaned off, the charging 66 leading from hopper 64'and vthe oven charged byopening gates 68. Coal in excess of that need- 7 ed vfor the oven charge is carriedin thefho'ppers.

.The coal will iiow through the chutes until the oven is lled to the bottom of the chutes, .which after the lowering operation extend downv into the ovens,.and there will be a valley` or'depres` sion between the chutes the depth of whichfisA dependent on the angle of'repose ofthe coal.

- Hopper gates 68 are then closedjand the leveling bar is operated to swing the same transversely across the peaks or elevations of the coal charge. This will allow the coal in the stationary chutes to flow out, after which the movableY chutes andV leveling bar may be lifted slowly .a slight distance to a point where al1 the coal in the chutes will be leveled off. Y

with the coal charged and leveiedthe opera-- tor then `elevates the chutes and levelingY bar, A

raises the gas shut-offvalve' I I6, closes the standpipe cap II2, admits steam from main |20 tol purge the gas from the car into the oven, and

Y' replaces and tightens theoven doors, after which the sleeve II8 and the movablecouplings 2l elevated. y

Among the-important advantages derived through use'of my improved mechanism are the car will be placed over the oven; The operator will then lower the gas shut-off valve Y| I6 and connect thejsteam main |20 to a header (not shown) available at each oven. Steam is` not actually used, however, until a later period in the operation. Y

The door extracting and unlatching mechanism 48 will nextl be used to loosen the oven doors and elevate them by means of levers 50'into the recesses 2670i gas-tight enclosure 25, thus permitting subsequent movementA of the movable chutes and leveling bars. Y Y

The movable coupling 21 associated with the gas-tight enclosure will then'be lowered by means of pneumatic cylinders 20, which cylindersk may be used to maintain pressure of each coupling onv the machined surface of thev door frame until charging is completed. At this point -uid is adpass off through 'conduit |06into the air.l v

When the coke car operator vhas replaced `the bottom door and purged the coking chamber and charging car to the air` with steam from the bottom, the operator of the charging car will then connect conduit |00 extending from'the dust collector to standpipe ||0 by lowering sleeve IIS to the machined upper surfacek of the standpipe. Pressure should lbe maintained on this surface until the charging is finished. Of course the valve or seal |22 to the collecting main ||4 will be opened.

Themovable chuteand leveling bar assemblies are then lowered to engagethe stationaryI chutes great saving in labor and control of the dust problem. While for purposes ofrillustration I have suggested herein theuse of pneumatic and electric'actuating means for performing certain of the important functions and disclosed specific constructions for enabling such performance, it

`is to be understood that the disclosure is intended to be exemplary and not by way of'lmitationof the invention as hereinafter set forth by the claims.

W hat I claim is:

l. In a device of the class described the combination of a gas-tight enclosure, movable means for coupling the same with-'an oven door open ing, means for withdrawing the door of said opening, a'chute within the 'enclosure a-dapted to be lowered through -the door opening into the oven, a leveling bar positioned in said enclosure extending longitudinally of the opening below the end of said chute and similarly adapted, and means for lowering the chute and leveling bar intol the y oven. a v

2. In a device lowered through the door opening intothe oven, a leveling bar positioned in said enclosure extending longitudinally of thev opening below the end of said chuteand similarly adapted, means for lowering the chute and leveling bar into the oven, and means for reciprocating said bar longitudinally of the opening.

- 3. In a device of the class described the com-Y bination of a gas-tight enclosure, movable means for coupling the same with an oven door opening,

a coal 'feed hopper outside the enclosure having,

an opening, an open-ended chute inside the enclosure adapted to be lowered'through the door i opening into the oven to thereby place its open end in communication with the hopper opening,

fa leveling bar'positionedl in said enclosure extending longitudinally of the opening below the end of said chute and simil-arly adapted, means for lowering the chute and leveling bar into the oven, and means for reciprocating said ban longitudinally of the opening. y ,L

are

of the class described the combination of a gastight enclosure, movable kmeans for coupling the same with an oven door open' ing, means for withdrawing the door of said open-r ing, a chute within the enclosure adapted to be 4. In a device of the class described the combination of a gas-tight enclosure, movable means for coupling the same with an oven door opening, conduit means including a dust collector extending therefrom and communicating with the atmosphere, al coal feed hopper outside the enclosure having an opening, an open-ended Vchute inside the enclosure adapted to be lowered through the door opening into the oven to thereby place its open end in communication with the hopper opening, a leveling bar positioned in said enclosure extending longitudinally oi the opening below the end of said chute and similarly adapted, means for lowering the chute and leveling bar into the oven, and means for reciprocating said bar longitudinally of the opening.

5. In a device of the class described the combination of a gas-tight enclosure, movable means for coupling the enclosure with an oven door opening, means for removing the door of said opening into the enclosure, a coal feed hopper outside the enclosure having an opening, an open-ended chute inside the enclosure adapted to be lowered through-the door opening into the oven to thereby place its open end in communication with the hopper opening, a leveling bar positioned in said enclosure extending longitudinally of the opening below the end of said chute and similarly adapted, means for lowering the chute and leveling bar into the oven, and

means for reciprocating said bar longitudinally or" the opening.

6. A device of the class described for use in conjunction with an oven having a s'tanclpipe communicable with a collecting main comprising a gas-tight enclosure, movable means for coupling the same with an oven door opening, conduit means extending `from the enclosure and communicating with the atmosphere, movable means supported by said device adjacent the L tudinally of the opening below the end of said' chute and similarly adapted, means or'lowering the chute and leveling bar into the oven, and means for reciprocating said bar longitudinally of the opening.

7. A charging car for use with coking ovens carrying thereon a gas-tight enclosure having at its lower extremity a vertically movable member for coupling said enclosure around an oven door opening in gas-tight relation, means positioned within said enclosure for loosening the fastenings of an oven door, and means for swinging the loosened door into said enclosure, whereby gases rising from the oven will pass into said enclosure.

8. A charging car for use with coking ovens carrying thereon a gas-tight enclosure having at its lower extremity a vertically movable member for coupling said enclosure around an oven door opening in gas-tight relation, means positioned Wtihin said enclosure for loosening the fastenings of an oven door, means for swinging the loosened door into said enclosure at one side of the door opening, a coal conveying chute positioned within said enclosure, means for lowering said chute into the oven through the door opening, and means for connecting the lowered chute with a coal supply located outsidesaid enclosure.

9. A charging car for use with colsing ovens carrying thereon a gas-tight enclosure having at its lower extremity a vertically movable member for coupling said enclosure around an oven door opening in gas-tight relation, means positioned within said enclosure forV loosening the fastenings of an oven door, means forv swinging the loosened door into said enclosure at one side of the door opening, a coal conveying chute positioned within said enclosure, means for lowering said chute into the oven through the door opening, a coal hopper carried by the car beside said enclosure and having a valved stationary feed leading into said enclosure, and means jfor coupling said lowered chute with said stationary feed to transmit coal from the hopper into the oven.

10. A charging car for use with coking ovens carrying thereon a gas-tight enclosure having at its lower extremity a vertically movable member for coupling said enclosure around an oven door opening in gas-tight relation, means positioned within said enclosure for loosening the fastenings of an oven door, means for swinging the loosened door into said enclosure at one side of the door opening, a coal conveying chute positioned within said enclosure, means for lowering said chute into the oven through the door opening, means for connecting the lowered chute with a coal supply located outside said enclosure, and means for leveling the coal within the oven `lowerable with said chute into the oven.

1l. A charging car for use with co'xing ovens carrying thereon a gas-tight enclosure having at its lower extremity a vertically movable member for coupling said enclosure around an oven door opening in gas-tight relation, means positioned within said enclosure for loosening the fastenings or an oven door, means for swinging the loosened door into said enclosure at one side of the door opening, a coal conveying chute positioned within said enclosure, means for lowering said chute into the oven through the door opening, means for connecting the lowered chute with a coal supply outside said enclosure, a leveling bar lowerable with said chute into the oven, and means for oscillating said leveling bar while within the Oven- GRADY PADGETT.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,050,254 Thwaites Jan. 14, 1913 1,098,374 Feicks June 2, 1914 1,376,313 Becker Apr. 2e, 1921 1,332,916 Johnson et al. June 28, 1921 1,549,141 McGregor Aug. 11, 1925 1,597,314 Howard et al Aug. 24, 1926 1,785,750- Van Ackeren Dec. 23, 1930 1,787,248 Hayes Dec. so, 1930 1,798,517 Becker Mar. 31, 1931 2,057,125 Wilson Oct. 13, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 480,763 Germany Aug. 8, 1929 583,114 Germany Aug. 29, 1930 122,755 Austria May 11, 1931 352,325 Great Britain July 9, 1931 430,446 Great Britain June 6, 1935 625,919 Germany Feb. 18, 1936 468,260 Great Britain July 1,1937 

7. A CHARGING CAR FOR USE WITH COKING OVERNS CARRYING THEREON A GAS-TIGHT ENCLOSURE HAVING AT ITS LOWER EXTREMITY A VERTICALLY MOCABLE MEMBER FOR COUPLING SAID ENCLOSURE AROUND AN OVEN DOOR OPENING IN GAS-TIGHT RELATION, MEANS POSITIONED WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE FOR LOOSENING THE FASTENINGS OF AN OVEN DOOR, AND MEANS FOR SWINGING THE LOOSENED DOOR INTO SAID ENCLOSURE, WHEREBY GASES RINSING FROM THE OVEN WILL PASS INTO SAID ENCLOSURE. 